Time and again, it is obvious to me that many singers are spinning in circles when it comes to working in the practice room. Intelligent people with every intention of spending time to improve technique and gain self-confidence are doing nothing more than grinding in old habits. And we wonder why we don’t like to practice? If you’re not spending a good bit of time practicing to DISCOVER–to redefine what you’re learning in lessons and classes so that it becomes your very own–you are not progressing very much. Continue Reading

Commitment to something that you love to do is more than just paying for voice lessons or showing up for class. While the financial commitment to learning to sing is very real–it’s also the “easy” part in some ways.Continue Reading

There are so many topics I’d like to write about here that I really struggled with what I should post first after my summer hiatus this year– until a friend and fellow teacher shared this Ted Talk video on Facebook.

I find that I personally learn a lot more about singing from sources not aimed at singers–and I think you’ll see what I mean after viewing this video. Watch it, keeping in mind those things that keep you from being the singer you wish to be. Brene Brown gives us a unique overview of all the core elements that keep us from living the life we’d choose–and of course these very same things hold us back from our potential as singers. I found myself laughing out loud several times and by the end of the talk, was so moved–that I came right here to post.

A great tool for memorization is to “storyboard”–something that film makers do to map out scenes before they are shot. Draw a symbol for each idea or part of an idea in each phrase of what you are singing. These can be realistic–or even silly–anything to help you string the parts of the whole together so that you can remember them in order. Here is an example of my storyboard for Bizet’s “Ouvre ton coeur”–just click on the link below (and yes, it’s fine to laugh at my drawing skills or lack thereof!):